I'm not ready

What do you say to people who tell you 'I'm not ready'.
Do people have to be ready to receive Jesus, or do we have to prod them to be ready? Won't they be like the foolish virgins who werent ready and The bridegroom came when they were sleeping?

If so, how do we believers handle it when we see other people dragging their feet. Do we wait for them or do we walk on by or just go on ahead following Jesus without them.

Any scripture and advice appreciated.

I just pray for them and move on
Its their own problem if they were to stop u from something God wants u to do or be

From reading the Word I have come to undersand tht our Father gives all people time to repet……..His mind is not ur mind so do not bring up new borns, children, people who have not heard the Word etc. These kinds of question actually are questioning the Love of OUr Father Wh is Love.

Faith in God. You must believe He is if you claim to believe..

Tell them not to worry if they are truly seeking, Jesus will tell them.

I ask them why they are not ready.. I try to get to the reason for their hesitation.. If people will not open up to me with an honest reply then i can do nothing more until they get over what is bothering them or until they chose to share what it is that has them stuck..

We Christians should keep on following Jesus no matter if everyone around us is rejecting Him..

If it's people you see regularly, continue to show the love of Jesus without preaching, as long as they know you're a Christian.

A friend loveth at all times Pro.17:17

Maybe it’s the way it’s explained to them. Christ is the Savior. If the building is on fire and you are trapped in a room, a firefighter, busts down the door and attempts to bring you to safety, who says, “I’m not ready?”

That’s why most wealthy people are hesitant to receive Christ. They are enjoying the moment, oblivious to the concept of eternity. People who feel oppressed and mistreated are more accepting of someone to free them. Convincing people that life is temporal, and carnality (pleasure from creature comfort) is addictive maybe their eyes will be opened to seeing the Spiritual side and desire the only way of attainment.

It is a mistake to think we convert anyone.
Our job is to sow the seed and water it.

God makes the miracle of rebirth happen.

When you pray for their soul in your prayer time,also rebuke the enemy off their mind.

I’m not disagreeing with your statement, but in addition I believe it is within our power to “till the soil”. This is harder to do with strangers but for those a bit closer, we can engage in deeper conversations and shift focus from the meaningless of life and distraction. Getting them to question a higher purpose and that life is more than what is seen, may make them more receptive to “implantation of seed”.

And so the obvious. One plants, another gives water, but God gives the growth.

Thanks for replies...these that say they arent ready are not particularly wealthy...
One is his unbelieving mum is sick and the other from what I know has an unbelieving husband which may have something to do with it. Well that is their kind of excuse. Although Jesus does say anyone who loves their relatives more than God is not worthy of me.

My immediate family dont believe yet I still follow Jesus. I dont let them stop me.

I could ask why are you not ready, but that is all the reason they give (and both gave the same reason) so what is this lack of readiness actually mean. What is holding them back from receiving God. Note they dont outright say 'i dont believe'

Hmm with plants most plants need the sun in order to thrive and put out shoots and leaves. It seems some people prefer to stay in the dark??

What could be some good questions to ask, that wont have them avoiding the topic...some eye-openers (or ear openers) . I do agree there needs to be soil preparation, but how. I do know with good seed, you need to sow at the right time, and it just wont germinate till theres a a certain temperature of the soil. But many seed actually require light to germinate.

It seems paraphrases with understanding is not sufficient so here below is the Scripture.

1Co 3:7 So then neither is he that planteth any thing, neither he that watereth; but God that giveth the increase.

This is just referring to people who do plant the seed (the word) and those who baptise (water) that none of them ought to boast because it is God who gives the growth.

This doesnt really answer the question I ask...as nobody is boasting of anything here. As far ask I know the people that say they arent ready have been given the word...and they may have even been watered. BY others.

The time is upon us and the harvest is great. Pray for workers to work the Harvest.

This can be hard to do at times when all you want to talk about is Jesus. And especially if God is saying well these people especially need to hear about My son.

The other aspect is, and this is where it takes discernement, could those who arent ready be still in the world. Friendship with the world is enmity with God.

Can one show love by leaving these people alone? I mean if they keep refusing ones invites then, maybe just dont talk to them anymore. Cos Im kind of thinking its bordering on rudness to keep rejecting ones offerings or invites.

Keep sharing those building materials. Good night from here…….all blessings in Jesus, Yeshua...j

Every situation is different. There are all kinds of teachable moments. Most of what we do is based on human conditioning. Just questioning the pointlessness of our days, why we do what do, can be beneficial.

Well, telling people about Jesus is very important, but showing them about him is also important. In my case, it was how a believer conducted herself toward me, by showing me love without condition, when I sure didn't deserve it, that absolutely fractured me. I wondered how in the world could this person show kindness toward someone like me?

They might be, but we can be among people without engaging in any sinful activity.

Well, we always pray for them, pray that God sets up a situation where we can show people the love of Jesus. He's good at putting us in places like that!